Tape perforator



y 27, 1948- V.-H. LANEY 2,445,834

TAPE PERFORATOR Filed Oct. 29, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.4 FIG.3

INVENTOR. VIRGIL H. LANEY ATTORNEY 1948- v. H. LANEY 2,445,834

TAPE PERFORATOR Filed 001.. 29, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 6 ROUND LEAD 5 TH-PULSE LEAD 6 PULSE LEAD s4 INVENTOR. VIRGIL H. LANEY ATTORNEY Patented July 27, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TAPE, PERFORATOR Virgil H. Laney, Fremont, Nebr., assignur to Automatic ElectricLaboratories, Inc. Chicago, 111., a corporation .of Delaware Application October 29, 1945, Serial No. 625,115

Claims. 1

This invention relates to a signal. controlled mechanism for producing perforated :tape such asls used .in telegraph systems but which may be employed with equaladvantages for other purposes.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide-a new andnovel tape perforating mechanism whichem-bodies a simple, compact and inexpensive construction.

Another objectof the invention is to provide a noveltape perforator which is self-regulating, au-

tom'atically responsive over a range of variations inzthe, characteristics of the signal impulses, and which always operates at the speed of the incoming. signals.

A further object of the invention is to provide animproved magnetically controlled perforator.

arranged for perforating tape in response tothe receipt of incoming code signals, each code sig-. nal comprising one or more. impulses.

A still further object of the. inventionis to provide an improved tape perforator capable of being used as a reperforator in a receiving circuit of. a telegraph multiplex signal. transmission circuit.

A feature of the invention resides in the novel arrangement of the punch pin selecting means.

Power invested in a depressed spring is normally prevented from causing the selection of the punch pm by means of a latch. which is controlled by an associated incoming-signal electroma'gnet. Responsive to the receipt of an incoming signal, the electromagnet releases the latch to free the depressed spring, and the spring then automatically causes. the related punch pin to be selected.

Another feature of the invention concern the extreme sensitiveness of the incoming-signal electromagnet. As stated in the preceding paragraph, the incoming-signal electrom-a'gnet is required to trip only the latch normally restraining the depressed spring from causing the selection of the punch pin, and, therefore, the electromagnet responds readily to varying incoming signals without the need for normal pulse correction.-

A further featureof the invention is the provisionof novel'resetting means for automatically restoring the punch pin selecting mechanism tonormal position when the punch actuating mag net causes the selected punch pin to perforate the tape.

A still further feature of the invention relates toa unique locking arrangementtor-holding the:

punch pin selecting element inv the operated positionduring the period that the pun-ch actuating magnetdrlves the selected punch pin through the.

tape.

Other objects and features will become apparent from the following description together with the accompanying drawings which show a proposed embodiment byway of example.

The invention is disclosed in two sheets of drawings comprising Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive.

Fig. 1 is a View, in elevation, of the perforator showing the general relationship of the selecting mechanism 20, the perforating mechanism 60, the 6th pulse cut-out 80, and the 6th pulse relay 90.

Fig. 2 is an end view, in elevation, of the perforator showing further details of the 6th pulse relay Other details not directly related to the G-th-pulse relay and which would ordinarily appear in this end view have been omitted.

Fig. 3 is a view of the perforator taken along theline A--A in Fig; 1 and showing the radial mounting arrangement of five pairs of incomingsignal electromagnets 2|. Details not pertinent to the radial mounting of the incoming-signal electromagnets' 2| have been omitted from this view-forthe sakeof clarity.

Fig. 4 is a partial View taken along the line B-.'-B' in: Fig.1 to further illustrate the operating relationship ofthe 6th pulse cut-out all with the selectingmechanism 20.

Fig. 5 is a view taken along the line C-C in Fig. 1 showing the association of five punch pin selecting elements 41 with the related lever membersmof selecting mechanism 20. This viewalso shows further details of the incoming-signal electromagnets 2L Fig; 6 isan isometric view of selecting mechanism' 20 .for more clearly illustrating the interrelationships of thevarious parts. In order to simplify this view,-only one selecting channel is included.

Fig/'7 is a simplebasic circuit diagram for 11-- punch-pins.v A local keyboard is usable instead of the alternative arrangement of a keyboard at a distant station. A punch actuating solenoid is .3 controlled from a local circuit of thereceiving distributor to drive the selected punch pins through a tape, to eifect the restoration of all operated pin selecting elements, and, through a paper feed medium, to advance the tape into the succeeding perforat'ing position. The controlling circuit of the punch actuating solenoid is closed at the receiv ing distributor once for each complete cycle of the distributor regardlessly of whether signals are being received, and, to avoid needless ad vancing of blank tape through the perforator, a signal-controlled contact known as the 6th pulse cut-out is included in the control circuit of the punch actuating solenoid at the perforator. This 6th pulse cut-out is operated in common by the pin selecting elements of the five signal channels,

and serves to complete the controlling circuit of the punch actuating solenoid at the perforator only when any one of the punch pin selecting elements becomes effective in response to the operation of the associated selecting electromagnet.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to '7, inclusive, the several parts of the perforator are mounted upon a hollow base it which is of square or rectangular configuration. The base being of hollow construction permitsthe concealment of the local wiring between the various parts inside the base, and also permits the mounting of minor parts or parts requiring only infrequent inspec-- tion inside the base.

Five pairs of selecting electromagnets 2| are mounted on individual L-shaped brackets 22, these bracket assemblies in turn mounted on a common plate 23 in substantial radial relationship. The assembly of eleotromagnets is located near one end of base Ill as shown in Fig. l, and rigidly supported partly above and below the top surface of base ID by means of bracket 24 as shown in Fig. 5. Each of the electromagnets is provided with an iron core projecting from one. end of the coil for magnetic cooperation with armature bar 25. Each armature bar 25 is pivotally supported in a well-known conventional manner at the outer end of its respective L bracket 22.

At the outer end of each armature bar 25 is located a threaded striker pin 26 (Fig. 6) which is locked in the set position on armature bar 25 by means of lock nut 27. Striker pin 26 is in mechanical contact with plunger pin 28 which is bearinged in plate 23 (bearing not shown) for the purpose of tripping latch 29 when the operation of armature bar 25 causes striker pin 26 to operate plunger pin 28. A spring 30 attached to latch 29 causes plunger pin 28 through its mechanical contact with striker pin 26 to return armature bar 25 to normal position when latch 29 isrestored to the initial position. Latch 29 is pivoted at 33. An adjustable backstop screw 3| locked in the set position by means of lock nut 32 limits the non-operated normal of armature bar 25.

There are live latches 23 pivotally spaced in a framework 48 which is part of common plate 23 supporting the five pairs of electromagnet's 2| (Fig. 3). Pivot pin 33 passes through the six finger members of frame 48 and through aligned bearing holes in the five latches 29, thus permitting latches 29 to be rocked in a reciprocating motion about pin 33. Springs 36 (one for each latch 29) are anchored to a frame 47 which is pivotally attached to framework 48 by means of pivot pin 33 (Fig. 3). The outer end of frame 41 rests against stop bracket 44 which is fastened to base It by means of screw 45 (Figs. 1

position pin 28 to trip latch 29 (Fig. 6).

and 3). A slot 46 in stop bracket 44 provides means for adjusting the tension in springs 30 by changing the position of frame 41 with respect to framework 48. Shifting bracket 44 in one direction changes the relationship of frame 41 with framework 48, thus causing an increase in the tension of springs 38, and shifting bracket 44 in the opposite direction causes a corresponding reduction in'the tension-of 'springs 30'.-

Each punch pin selecting element 4| is pivotally attached to a related operating lever 31 of selecting mechanism 20 by means of pivot pin 42. Lever 31 is pivoted by means of pivot stud 38 rigidly fastened to base H) to permit a reciprocating movement of lever 31 between stop brackets 39 and 40 fixedly attached to base I0 (Figs. 1 and 5). Pivot stud 38 is so located in lever 31 as to produce a short end 5| and a long end 52 in lever 37. A transfer lever 35 is pivoted to base I!) by means of pivot stud 36 (Figs. 1 and 6), and the angled end '53 of transfer lever 35 may make contact with an edge of the long end 52 of lever 31 at point 49.

A power spring 34 is anchored between the short end 5| of lever 31 and the straight end 54 of transfer lever 35, tending to force the short end 5| of lever 31 and the straight end 54 of transfer lever 35 apart and thus cause the angled end 53 of transfer lever 35 to make contact with lever 31 at point 49. In the normal position of selecting mechanism 20, however, the straight end 54 of transfer lever 35 is held from movement outwardly by means of a notch 50 in one member of latch 29. The pressure of spring 34 f is, therefore, directed entirely against the short end 5i of lever 31, thus forcing and holding the long end 52 of lever 31 against stop bracket 39 (Fig. 6). In this position of lever 31, the associated punch pin selecting element 4| is made ineffective.

Now, when an incoming signal impulse is received and causes electromagnet 2| to attract armature bar 25, striker pin 26 causes plunger The tripping of latch'29 removes notched end 50 of latch 29 from in contact with long end 54 of transfer lever 35, and the power in spring 34 is now directed against long end 54 of transfer lever 35.'

The leverage relationships between lever 3! and transfer lever 35 are such that spring 34 now causes transfer lever 35 to be operated, and the angled end 53 of transfer lever 35 contacts the long end 52 of lever 31 at point 49. Transfer lever 35, therefore, forces and holds the long end 52 of lever 31 against stop bracket 40. In

this latter position of lever 31, the associated punch pin selecting element 4| is made effective.

The operation of transfer lever 35 just described is a local action effectively and almost instantly accomplished without reference to the characteristics of the incoming-signal impulse except as to a minimum strength characteristic, since the operation of electromagnet 2| is required to trip only latch 29, and spring 34 alone accomplishes the operation of transfer lever 35. Only a small amount of power and only a short movement of plunger pin 28 is required to trip latch 29, and, hence, the tripping of latch 29 is accomplished over a wide range of speed and power in the incoming signal impulse. It is obvious that the electromagnet 2| of one or more signal channels may be operated in the wellknown permutation telegraph manner, with a corresponding operation of the related transfer lev'ers 35 and associated selection of punch pins in'the perforating mechanism Bil.

The tripping of any latch 23 responsive to the receipt of an'incoming signal impulse over the related signal channeL'as previously described, causs'the'closlng of the 6th 'pulse cut-out 80 in the following mariner. 'When' latch 29" istripped, spring 34 causes transfer lever 35 to force and. hold long end 52 of lever 31 agains't'stop bracket 48. V As the long end 52 of lever 31 moves towards stop. bracket 40, it moves an extension 8|" of lever" 82 I(Fig'.' 6) outwardly. 'Lever 82 is pivoted at 33 and, responsive to the urging of extension '81 by lever 31. the long end 83. of lever 82 forc'es'contact spring into electrical contact with con tact screw 85, thereby completing the control circult of the punch actuating solenoid at the perforation Extension 8| is of sufficient length to bridge all five levers 31 in order that it may be operated by any one of the levers 31 (Fig. 4). Contact'spring 84 is so tensioned that itnormally forces and holds extension 8| against the edges ofi'lev'ers 37 through the medium of lever 82. Contact screw 85. is adjustably mounted on bracket 86 which is" rigidly fastened to base I bracket 86 providing a firm and immovable sup- -port for contact screw 85 (Fig. 1).

Theperfo'rati'ng mechanism 60 shown in Fig. I is ofa'well-known type comprising in general a punch pi'n'block having six punch pins (one at which is a tape feed pin), a punch'hammer pivoted at 63 for operating the punch pins, five punch pin selecting elements 4| adapted to be shiftedin'front of the punch pins through the operation of selecting mechanism previously described for determining the operation of the punch 'pih's, a punch actuating solenoid '64 ior operating punch hammer '62, and a tape feed roller actuated by punch hammer" through a pawl 88. The tape 81 extends from a suitable reel mounted on base I0 (reel not shown) through a suitable tensioning means (not shown), through the guide opening between pin block it and shield 58, and thence over a portion of the periphery of feed roller 65. This type of'per'fo ratlng'mechanism'is described in detail in Patent No. 135L838, R. Hoover et al., dated March 293' 1932, to which patent reference may be made for details not included in this specification; A

bracket 81 (Fig. 1) is attached to cross-bar 88 of punch actuating magnet 64 for" the purpose of releasing'la'tch '9T oi 6th pulse relay 90' in the manner'to be described later. The punch block s l 'illu'strated in Fig. 8 comprises five punches I'I'U employedtopunch the code holes inthe tape,

and a sixth'puuch designed to punch feed holesin the tape. Punch is of smaller diameter'than' punches H0. Each punch has an annul'ar enlargement, or collar, I I2 normally resting against the wall adjacent to punch hammer 62. The "punches extend through a retracting plate Hi3 and through openings in the opposite wall'of block 6|. The punches are retained in the normal' position, as shown in Fig.8, by compression springs If surrounding two of the pins. A die plate H 3 is secured to punch block 6| and is provided with openings in alignment with the punch pins. A guide opening I I6 is provided in punch'block 5| for the passage of tape 6T between die plate H5 and the ends of punches I |0 and H I. Since feed holes are required for every character; punch I H is longer than punches I I' U' so that it'will always be operated by punch hammer-62. Punches H O cannot be forced through the tape by punch: hammer 62 unless the ends of? the corresponding: punch pin selecting elements:

Hare interposed between punch-hammer Stand the ups ofpunches no. Aspring m. attached to'punc'h hammer 62 and secured to the base 0'1 the perforator (base attachment. not shown) pro vides means for restoring punch hamme'r'fl toz normal position after a punching has been e15 iected'.

The automatic restoring of all operated punch pin selecting elements to the normalflposition when punch actuating solenoid 34' causes punch hammer $2 to drive the related selected punchpins through the tape, is accomplished inthe following manner. An angle extension 38 of punch hammer 62 controlsthe restoring of all op erated punch pin selecting elements through the medium of a resetting lever 63 common to the five transfer levers 35"(Figs. 1 and 6). one end of resetting lever 89 is pivotally attached to ex.- tension 68. and the other end of lever 63 passes: between the third and fourth transfer levers .35 as shown in Figs. 1 and'5. A T member 10 is attached to lever '63 just beyond the far edges of transfer levers 35- and so bridges all five trans fer levers 35 that when the operation of punch hammer 62' causes extension 68' to pull resetting lever 69' towards punchactuating sol'enoidQBM-T member 10 forces the straight ei' ids fi l of all or; created transfer levers 35 in the direction: of punc'li actuating solenoid 64- againstthe pressures of the related springs 34 Fig'. 6); The angled erids 53 of-sa'id'transfer levers 35 are,- therefore; pulled away from contact with their respective levers 311 at points 49, and now the pressure of each related spring 34- is directed to urging and subsequently holding the long and 52 of the respective lever 3'!- against stop bracket 39. The long end 52 of each said lever 31 draws its punch pin selecting eleme'nt 4| from. in front of the associated punch pin. The operationof resetting lever its-does not effect any transfer lever 35 already in the nor-- mal' position because the straight end 54 0i such a transfer lever is out of the operating plane of T member 10'. When the straight end 54-of any operated transfer lever 35' is pulled in" the direction of solenoid by T member 10 ofresetting lever 63, spring 3|! of the respective latch 29- tends to 'pull notched end 50 of latch 29 towards end 54" of the transfer lever, and, as resetting' l eve'r 69 completes its stroke, the notched end "W of latch 29"- slips in behind end 54 of the transfer" lever'thus retaining transfer lever 35 in the res'et, or normal; position.

After a punch pin selecting element 4| has been operated'to cause the conditioning of the related punch'pin preparatory to a punching operation. it is desirable to prevent any further longitudinal movement of element 4f until the punching of theta'pe'ha's been accomplished. The reason for this is that as much hammer 62 moves towards" punch pin block GIi't gradually draws resetting lever 69in the direction of solenoid 54 through the medium of extension 68, and, hence, the gradually increasing tension of spring'34 operating aga'i'nst short end 5| of lever 31 attempts to urge long end 52 of lever 31 towards stop bracket 39;" If lever 31 is permitted to move before punch hammer '62 completes the punching, the tip of selecting element 4| may be prematurelywithdrawn from in "front of the related punch pin and thus a false punching would occur. It is also desirable to prevent longitudinal movement; of an un operated selecting element 4| during the punchlng'of the tape to prevent an accidental" selection of a punch pin due to jars, vibrations and the like. To overcome these possible faults,- a novel locking arrangement, as'described in the following paragraphs, is provided for holding the punch pin selecting elements 4| longitudinally immovable during the period that punch hammer 62 drives the selected punch pins through the tape.

The locking arrangement for retaining the punch pin selecting elements 4| in their respective longitudinal positions While the tapeis being punched consists essentially of a pawl 19 (Fig.1) common to the five selecting elements 4| momentarily engaging either tooth T! or tooth 18 (Fig. 6). in' each selecting element 4|. The common pawl 19 is part of a gate H which is hingedly attached to punch hammer 62 by means of pin l2and bracket 13. A spring ,89 (Fig. spirally wound around pin .12 and attached to gate H and bracket" normally urges gate 1| towards punch hammer 62. A threaded stud l4 adjustably attached to gate 7| by means of lock nut 75 projects through gate H and between the second and third selecting elements 4| for engaging stop bracket 16 fixedly attached to the mounting bracket of solenoid 64. Part of the top member of punch hammer 62 is cut away in Fig. 1 to more clearly reveal stud l4, stop bracket 79 and pawl '19. Stud 14 is so adjusted with respect to gate 1| and stop bracket: 16 that when punch hammer 62 is in the normal, or unoperatcd, position bracket 16 causes stud 14 to move gate ll sufficiently away from punch hammer 82 to clear pawl 19 from teeth ll and 18 of the punch pin selecting elements. Hence, the selecting elements 4| are free to be moved longitudinally and, therefore, one or more elements 4| may be operated by selecting mechanism 29 to condition punch pins for a subsequent tape perforating operation.

Assuming now that apunch pin selection has been made through the medium of the selecting elements 4|, the punch actuating solenoid 64 is then energized to cause punch hammer 62to drive the selected punch pins through the tape. As punch hammer 92 starts to. operate, spring 89. (Fig. 5) of hinge pin 12 causes stud 74 to temporarily maintaincontact with stop bracket 16 by forcing gate 1| towards punch hammer 62. As gate H is urged towards punch hammer 62, pawl 19 enters an aligned row of teeth which may include teeth 18 of all selecting elements 4| or part 11 teeth and part 19 teeth dependent upon how many of the punch selecting elements 4| were operated. In the normal position of elements 4|, teeth T! are aligned in one row and teeth 18 in another row. and pawl '19 is in line. with the H row, but when an element 4| is in the operated position. its tooth .18 is aligned with the teeth 1'! of allunoperated elements 4|. Further movement of punch hammer 62 causes stud 14 to leave bracket 16, and pawl 19 then rests firmly in an aligned row of teeth of the elements 4|, thus locking all elements 4| against longitudinal movement. 4

When punch hammer 62 has 1 driven the selected punch pins through the tape, it starts its return movement to the normal position. Now, as punch hammer 62 approaches the normal position, stud .14 again contacts stop bracket 16, and further return movement of punch hammer 6 2 causes bracket-16 to prevent further advance of stud 14. Hence, gate H will be urged away from punch hammer 32 until pawl 19 is withdrawnfrom the aligned row of teeth in,the selecting elements 4|. Elements 4| then inthe operated position are, now free to be i moved The circuit for punch actuating solenoid 64 is closed by a contact of the 6th pulse relay 99, which relay is operated by an incoming signal through the 6th pulse cut-out after each selection of punch pins. The details of 6th pulse relay '90 are shown in Fig. 2 wherein 9| represents a heel piece on which armature 92 is pivotally supported at 93. Armature 92 is L-shaped, with member :94 fitted with an adjustable set screw and the long member 95 fitted with a slot 96 (Fig. 1) for engaging latch 91. Contact 99 controls the local supply circuit to the windings of punch actuating solenoid 64 and is operated by means of bracket 98 attached to armature 92. It should be understood at this time that the particular form of 6th pulse relay and its contact are rangement is conventional only as any wellknown form of high-voltage, quick contact-break relay may be used. The energization of 6th pulse relay 9|) causes armature 92 to be attracted,

thereby causing contact springs 99 to close and complete the local supply circuit to solenoid 64. As armature 92 closes contact 99, the slot 9 6 in the end of armature 92 engages latch 91 thus locking armature 92 in the operated position and retaining contact 99 closed. Solenoid 64 operates in response to the closing of contact 99 and causes punch hammer 62 to drive the selectedpunch pins through the tape, as previously explained. Just as solenoid 64 completes its stroke, bracket 8'! attached to cross-bar 88 trips latch 91, thereby causing the release of armature 92 of the 6th pulse relay and the consequent opening of contact 99. The circuit to solenoid is now opened at contact 99, and solenoid 64restores to normal position. Latch 91 is of sufficient length to be retained in slot 96 when armature 92 restores, and the tip of latch 91 prevents the locking of armature 92 in the normal position. Aspring I00 provides the necessary tension for latch 91, and a set screw |9| rigidly supported on bracket 81 provides means for adjusting the latch.

Fig. 7 shows in simple diagrammatic form typi cal internal wiring of the perforator. Leads from punch actuating solenoid 64 and from contact 99 of 6th pulse relay 90 are Wired to pin plugs I92 mounted in a side rail of base I0 (Fig. 1) for connecting a power supply source to solenoid B4. The siX signal leads designated 1st pulse lead to 6th pulse lead, inclusive, in Fig. 7 and the common ground lead are wired to a multiple-pin socket I93 also mounted in a side rail of base l0. Pin plugs W2 and multiple-pin socket I93 provide means for conveniently and quickly connecting the perforator into an operating circuit by attachment of suitable socket and plug comple-. ments.

It should be understood that while one embodiment of the invention is disclosed and described in the preceding specification, the invention is not limited to the particular form or application shown, but is entitled to the equivalents thereof within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a signal controlled perforator, a. perforating mechanism, an element for conditioning said mechanism, a slot in said element, a pawl for engaging said slot, a power spring, means for tensioning said spring, a latch responsive to said tensioning of said spring for locking said tensioned spring, means responsive to a received signal for releasing said latch to unlock said tensioned spring, said conditioning element actuated in response to the unlocking of said tensioned spring thereby to condition said mechanism, means for causing said pawl to engage said slot thereby to lock said conditioning element in said actuated position, and means for operating said conditioned mechanism.

2. In a signal controlled perforating device, a tape, a set of punches, operating bars each having a slot, a pawl common to said bars for engaging said slots in said bars, control elements associated with said bars, power springs associated with said control elements, means for tensioning said springs and for locking said springs under tension, means for releasing said tensioned springs in accordance with a received code combination of electrical impulses to cause the moving of said bars into operating position with said punches, means for causing said pawl to engage said slots in said moved bars thereby to lock said bars in said moved positions, and means for pressing said moved bars into engagement with said punches to cause said punches to perforate said tape.

3. In a tape perforating device, punches, bars each having two slots, a pawl common to said bars for engaging said slots in said bars, means responsive to an incoming signal for operating one of Said bars to condition one of said punches, means for causing said pawl to engage one of said slots in said one operated bar and said other slots in said unoperated bars for locking all said bars in their respective positions, and means for causing said conditioned punch to perforate the tape.

4. In a tape perforating mechanism, punches, punch conditioning bars, two slots in each Of said bars, a pawl for occupying one or the other of said slots in said bars, means for operating one of said bars to condition one of said punches, means for causing said pawl to occupy one of said slots in said operated bar and said other slots in said other bars for looking all said bars in their related positions, means for causing said conditioned punch to perforate the tape, and means for thereafter withdrawing said pawl from said occupied slots in said bars.

5. In a tape perforator, punches, punch conditioning members, an operating mechanism for each of said members, a tensioned spring individual to each of said mechanisms, latches individual to said tensioned springs retaining the springs in the tensioned positions, a magnet, an actuator, signal responsive means for causing an operation of one or more of said latches to release the related tensioned spring or springs, said releasing of a tensioned spring or springs causing said released tensioned spring or springs to actuate the associated mechanism or mechanisms for operating the related punch conditioning member or members thereby to condition said related punch or punches, and means for causing said magnet to operate said actuator thereby to cause the operation of said conditioned punch or punches and also to cause the retensioning of said released spring or springs.

6. In an electrically operated tape perforator, punches, mechanisms for punches, tensioned springs locked in the tensioned positions, a magnet, an actuator, means for unlocking said tensioned springs to cause said mechanisms to operate thereby to condition said conditioning said punches, means for causing said magnet to operate said actuator, said operation of said actuator causing the simultaneous operation of said conditioned punches thereby to perforate a tape, said operation of said actuator also causing said unlocked springs to be retensioned thereby to restore said operated mechanisms.

7. In a perforator, a tape, a punch, a bar, a rotatably pivoted element connected to said bar, an electrical contact, a member for operating said contact, a lever, a tensioned spring, a magnet, an actuator, means for causing said tensioned spring to move said lever to cause an operation of said element, said operation of said element moving said bar into operating position with said punch and also causing said member to operate said contact, means including said operated contact for causing said magnet to operate said actuator there to cause said moved bar to urge said punch to perforate said tape, said operation of said actuator also causing another movement of said lever thereby to cause said spring to be retensioned.

8. In a perforating mechanism, a punch, a bar, a rotatably pivoted element connected to said bar, a lever, a tensioned spring, a magnet, an actuator, means for causing said tensioned spring to move said lever thereby to cause said element to operate said bar to condition said punch, means for causing said magnet to operate said actuator thereby to cause a movement of said conditioned punch and another movement of said lever, said other movement of said lever causing the retensioning of said spring, and means for restoring said actuator.

9. In a signal controlled perforator, punches, mechanisms for conditioning said punches, individual springs for operating said mechanisms, an electromagnet, an actuator, means responsive to a received signal for causing said electromagnet to operate said actuator thereby to cause the tensioning of said springs, means for locking said tensioned springs, means for restoring said actuator, other electromagnets responsive to other received signals for releasing said tensioned springs to cause the operation of said mechanisms thereby to condition said punches, means responsive to another received signal for causing said first electromagnet to again operate said actuator thereby to cause an operation of said conditioned punches and to also cause the retensioning of said released springs, said retensioning of said released springs causing said operated mechanisms to be restored.

10. In a signal controlled perforating mechanism, punches, members each having a slot, a pawl common to said members for engaging said slots, means responsive to incoming signals for operating said members to condition said punches, means for causing said pawl to engage said slots in said operated members for locking said members in said operated positions, and means for operating said conditioned punches.

VIRGIL I-I. LANEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,252,852 Hoover Aug. 19, 1941 2,308,543 Reiber Jan. 19, 1943 2,346,267 Mills Apr. 11, 1944 2,348,214 Gubisch May 9, 1944 2,398,014 Lake Apr. 9, 1946 

